On Fri, Apr 28, 2006 at 05:45:06PM -0700, Steve Lamb wrote: > > However when an author had the audacity to actually test the theory that > releasing the books for free would increase sales that is exactly what > happened. That author was Eric Flynt published by Baen. Since that day Baen > has published books online, for free, because it makes them money. In fact, > every book that David Weber (arguably their top author) puts out in hardcover > includes a CD which contains, in four formats, every book he's published. > I've bought 4 of his books in hardcover in the past few years. You think if > they were taking a loss they'd continue to do it? In fact it has been so > successful that they have recorded case where an author who consented to > releasing a Baen book saw the sales of her books under other publishers go up. > They've even published a book from an author who retained the electronic > publishing rights though her print rights are still locked up with another > pulp publisher.
If I recall correctly when I looked at the Baen site last year, they usually release on book in a series online. Those that read the first book and like it will have to buy the rest of the series. Has this changed? I didn't know about the David Weber CD, though. > Agreed on both points. Though I am always hopeful because of Baen's > example and always cite it loudly when people say that it might not work. > There's one example of it working now. > > -- > Steve C. Lamb | But who decides what they dream? > PGP Key: 8B6E99C5 | And dream I do... > -------------------------------+--------------------------------------------- > -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
